You may hear the term, “statutes of limitations,” quite often when the law is involved–but what exactly does this mean? Basically, these are laws that set time limits on how long you have to file a civil lawsuit and vary by state. The time limits usually depend on the severity of the crime and on the legal claim of the case.

There are two main points to a statute of limitations:

The time period begins to run on the date your claim arises or “accrues,” like the day of the car accident, or when a crime is committed

Once the statute of limitations has expired or “run out,” you can’t file a lawsuit (or be prosecuted for a crime)

Here is a breakdown of the many common civil claims and crimes in the State of Ohio–but be sure to always stay updated on these statutes, as laws always change:

Civil Crimes

Crime

Punishment

Medical Malpractice (depending on when it’s “discovered”)

1 or4 years

Assault and Battery

2 years

Personal Injury

2 years

Wrongful Death

2 years

Fraud

4 years

Contract (verbal)

6 years

Contract (in writing)

15 years

Criminal Claims

Crime

Punishment

Arson (depending on facts of the case)

1, 3, or 20 years

Assault (depending on facts of the case)

1, 3, or 20 years

Burglary

20 years

Kidnapping

20 years

Rape

20 years

Murder

No time limit

For a complete list of Ohio Statutes of Limitations, visit Lawyers.com or contact us.

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